Staple remover



Dec. 15, 1969 p, TOLLIVER 3,484,080

STAPLE REMOVER Filed Jan. 17, 1968 PER-kn 2771MB.

INVENTOR.

ATTQRIVE'Y United States Patent 3,484,080 STAPLE REMOVER Peter M. Tolliver, Brighton, N.Y., assignor of one-half to Samuel R. Genca Filed Jan. 17, 1968, Ser. No. 698,608 Int. Cl. B25c 11/00 US. Cl. 254-48 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A staple remover wherein opposed mating jaw mernbers having upper and lower camming surfaces coact when when urged together to remove a clinched staple therebetween from a material and a stripping means fixed to one of the jaw members automatically strips clinging staples from the other jaw member after the staple removing operation.

The present invention relates to a staple removing device and more particularly to an improved staple remover having automatic staple ejecting means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Staple removing devices for removing staples or similar fasteners from paper and other materials are well known to those skilled in the art. Generally, staple removing devices of the prior art comprise jaws having plane parallel vertical sides which terminates in camrning surfaces adapted to be inserted beneath a bridge of the staple. Means are included which cooperate with the jaws and the bridge to cause one of the camming surfaces to exert a continuing lifting force on the bridge immediate adjacent legs thereof to exert a force effective to straighten the bent legs of the sheet binding staples and the removal of the staple.

A major problem of long standing in the art is that the bent legs of the removed staple may cling to one of the jaws after removal. This is a particularly vexing problem because one or more staples must be removed when they bind or cling to the jaws and thus is time consuming. Further, if the staples stick on the staple removing device, the removed staples thereon may temporarily prohibit use of the staple removing device until the clinging staples are removed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved staple removing device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved staple remover which automatically ejects removed staples which may cling or stick thereto after each use or selectively remove a group of staples which may cling thereto after repeated use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a compact, efiicient, easily manufactured staple remover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described a staple remover in accordance with one embodiment of the invention comprises first and second opposed channel members pivotally mounted together at one end thereof and terminated at the other end thereof inwardly in pointed first and second camming jaws. One of the jaws of the first and second jaws is mateable between the other jaw so as to nest there between. The jaws are insertable under a bridge of a clinched all) ice

staple on a material for removing the staple therefrom when the opposed jaws on the first and second members are urged towards each other into the nesting position. Also included is means fixed to the one of the jaws and moveable within the other jaw for automatically stripping staples which may grip or cling to the other jaw after each use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood upon consideration of the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which like elements in the various figures have like designations and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a staple remover in accordance with the invention shown in a normally open position;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the staple remover of FIG. 1 shown in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is another side view of the staple remover of FIGS. 1 and 2, in cross-section taken along line AA of FIG. 2 and shown in a closed position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of a second embodiment of the invention in a staple remover shown in an open position;

FIG. 5 shows another fragmentary side view of a third embodiment of the invention in a staple remover;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a structural element in accordance with the invention suitable for use in the staple remover of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1 showing a fourth embodiment of the staple remover.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawing, the staple removed 1 comprises a pair of opposed members 2, 3 hinge mounted at one end as by a pin 5. One of the opposed members, namely member 2, has a channel shape with a pair of plane substantially parallel spaced apart side wall portions 6, 7 and a back portion 8 connecting the side Wall portions 6, 7. The side wall portions 6, 7 are spaced apart a given distance which is just less than the distance between legs 11, 12 of a staple 13 (FIG. 2). The other opposed member 3 is also channel shaped and has a pair of plane substantially parallel spaced apart side wall portions 14, 15 which are spaced apart less than the other pair of side wall portions 6, 7 so that side walls 14, 15 fit between the other pair of side walls 6, 7 in a mating relationship. The side wall portions 14, 15 are connected by a back portion 16. The opposed members 2, 3 are pivotally mounted on the pin 5 and are moveable towards and away from each other about the hinge pin 5.

The member 3 includes stop members 17 which are integral with the side walls 14, 15 and project inwardly so as to engage the back portion 8 of the opposed member 2 when the members 2, 3 are in a closed position. The stop members 17 limit the relative inward movement of the members 2, 3 (FIG. 3). Outward movement or rotational movement of the members 2, 3 about the pin 5 is limited by the back portion 8 of the member 2 and the side walls 14, 15 of the member 3.

Conventionally, a staple remover for the convenience of an operator may include finger grips or winged bearing plates 20, 21 on members 2, 3 respectively for manipulation of the members 2, 3. The plates 20, 21 are preferably formed of plastic but may be of any other suitable materials which provide a finger grip and provide for the even distribution of forces on the members 2 and 3. The plates and 21 are fixed to the members 2 and 3 by rivets 22 and 23 respectively.

The side walls 6 and 7 of the member 2 each terminated at the free end thereof in a pointed jaw 24 having an upper camming surface and a lower camming surface 26. The side wall portions .14 and 15 of the member 3 each terminate at the free end thereof in another pointed jaw 27 having an upper camming surface 28 and a lower camming surface 29. The staple remover 1 also includes a spring 31 which biases the jaws 24 and 27 outwardly in a normally open position.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a pawl member 32 is disposed between the side wall portions 14 and 15 and coupled to the back portion 16 of the member 3. Preferably, the pawl member 32 is adjustable between either on or off positions within the side wall portions 14, 15 as shown in FIGS. 13. The pawl member 32 may be fixed to the back wall position 16 of the member 3 as by rivoting without departing from the invention. The pawl member 32 has a width slightly less than the width between the side portions 14 and 15 so as to provide lateral stability during longitudinal movement and placement of the pawl member 32 between the on and off positions. The back portion 16 includes an elongated slot 33 substantially equal to or slightly greater than the desired movement of the pawl member 32. A button 34 communicates with the pawl member 32 through the elongated slot 33 and is fixed to the pawl member 32 at 37 for moving the pawl member 32 between the adjustable on and off positions. The button 34 and the pawl member 32 are shown in the on position in FIGS. 1-3.

The pawl member 32 is retained in either the on or the 011 positions by a dished spring type washer which provides sliding friction between the pawl member 32 and the back portion 16. Other retaining means of course may be used without departing from the invention. Such means may include for example ball detents or notches.

The pawl member 32 includes a hook portion 36 which is spaced from the upper camming surface 28 of the jaw 27 by a space slightly greater than the cross-sectional area of the staple 13. The hook portion 36 leads the upper camming surface 28 when the jaw 27 is moved towards the member 2. The hook portion 36 leads the upper camming surface 28 because the hook portion 36 must bypass the staple 13 before the staple 13 is elevated to a height substantially in line with the hook portion 36. The leading feature of the hook portion 36 is desirable since the staple 13, when being removed, rides along the upper camming surface 28 behind the hook portion 36 and therefore the hook portion 36 does not interfere with the removal of the staple 13 from the sheet material 38. It should also be noted that the hook portion 36 of the pawl member 32 also leads the staple 13- as it rides on the upper camming surface 25 of the jaw 24 when the member 3 is moved towards the member 2. The hook portion 36 is to the right or behind the staple 13 when the jaws 24, 27 of the members 2, 3 respectively are closed. The hook portion 36 of the pawl member 32 strips staples which may bind or cling on the member 2 and therefore is positioned in cooperative relationship with the upper camming surfaces 25, 28 such that the hook portion 36 is within the side wall portions 6, 7 and slightly below a point of intersection 19 (FIG. 3) of the upper camming surfaces 25 and 28 when the jaws 24, 27 are closed. The point of intersection 19 is the point at which the staple 13 is removed from the sheet material 38- and it is usually defined when the members 2, 3 are in a fully closed position as shown in FIG. 3.

The method of operating the staple remover 1 to remove a staple from the sheet material 38 is illustrated in FIGS. 13. In FIG. 1 the jaws 24 and 27 are aligned under the bridge of the staple 13 while the jaws 24, 27 are in the open position. The plates 20, 21 may be manually urged together as in a squeezing operation so that the jaws 24, 27 are urged towards each other and the staple 13 is cammed upwards by the upper camming surfaces 25 and 28 and the lower camming surfaces 26 and 29. The hook portion 36 of the pawl member 32 moves towards the member 2 while the staple 13 rides up the upper camming surfaces 25 and 28 such that it is disposed to the right or behind the staple 13 when the jaws 24, 27 are closed as shown in FIG. 3. The relative movement of the members 2 and 3 and their associated jaws 24 and 27 tend to straighten out the legs 11 and 12 of the staple 13 while the sheet material 38 is held downward thereby preventing tearing or mutilation of the sheet material 38 during the staple removing operation. The camming surfaces 25 and 28 intersect at a point distal (point of intersection 19) to the lower camming surfaces 26 and 29 such that the staple 13 is removed from the sheet material 38 when the members 2 and 3 are in a closed position. As was previously mentioned, the straightened legs 11, 12 of the staple 13 may cling to the member 2 and therefore cause the problem mentioned heretofor.

In accordance with the invention, staples which bind or cling to the member 2 are automatically stripped from the member 2 by the pawl member 32 while the jaws 24 and 27 are returning to the open position. The spring 31 biases the jaws 24 and 27 in a normally open position, thus when pressure is released on the plates 20 and 21, the jaws 24 and 27 open.

When desired, the pawl member 32 may be shifted into the off position so that the hook portion 36 is above the point of intersection 19 of the camming surfaces 25 and 28 and therefore does not come in contact with the staple 13 when the jaws 24, 27 are returning to the open position.

FIG. 4 shows another staple remover 40 in accordance with the invention. The staple remover 40 is similar to the staple remover 1 of FIG. 1 except that the member 3 is modified to reduce manufacturing costs when the adjust able feature of the pawl member is not desired. The pawl member 3 is modified and therefore is designated by a numeral 44. However, the member 2 is not modified and therefore the numeral 2 is retained. A pawl member 41 and a hook portion 42 are formed as an integral part of a back portion 43 of a member 47 in the staple remover 44. The pawl member 41 and the hook portion 2 are configured in a similar manner to the pawl member 32, that is the hook portion 42 is spaced from an upper camming surface of the member 44 so that the staple 13 may ride up the camming surface 45 and bypass the hook portion 42 during the staple removing operation. The hook portion 42 is positioned relative to the other upper camming surface 25 of the member 2 and the upper camming surface 45 such that it is below the point of intersection of the surfaces 45, 25 when the members 2 and 44 are closed. Also, the hook portion 42 is disposed within the side wall portion 6, 7 when the members 2, 44 are closed so that the hook portion 42 may strip staples which bind on the side wall portions 6, 7 of the member 2.

Referring to FIG. 5, another staple remover in accordance with the invention is shown. The staple remover 50 is similar to the staple removers 1 and 40 except that pawl portions 51 are formed as integral portions of the side wall portions 52, 53. The member 2 corresponds to the member 2 of FIG. 1. The pawl portion 51 includes a hook portion 54 which is positioned relative to the upper camming surface of the member 52 in a similar manner to the hook portion 42 of FIG. 4 or the hook portion 36 of FIG. 1. The hook portion 54 is separated from the camming surface 55 in a manner similar to the hook portion 36 of FIG. 1. The hook portion 54 and pawl portion 51 define a fiord-like space or aperture 56 having an inhibiting surface 57. The aperture 56 has a cross-sectional area which is less than the length of the legs 11, 12 of the staple 13. The reason for this is that some staples are resilient and therefore tend to fly away from the side wall portions 6, 7 and member 2 when stripped by the pawl portion 51 and hook portion 54. By making the aperture 56 smaller in cross-sectional area than the length of the bent legs 11, 12 of the staple 13, the velocity of the staple is reduced by the side wall portions 52, 53. The staple 13 movement is impeded by the inhibiting surface 57.

FIG. 6 shows a pawl member 60 which may be used in place of the other pawl members namely 32, 41 and pawl portion 51. The pawl member 60 is preferably made of resilient material such as steel and includes four prongs 61 disposed on opposite sides 62 and 63 of the pawl member 60. The pawl member 60 has a width between sides 62 and 63 only slightly less than the width between the side wall portions 14 and 15 so that the pawl member 60 may 'be inserted between the side wall portions 14- and 15 and held therebetween by the prongs 61. The pawl member 60 includes a hook portion 64 which is similar to the hook portions 36 and 42. The hook portion 64 is also positioned in cooperative relationship with the camming surfaces 25 and 28 in a manner similar to the pawl member 32 of FIG. 1. The locating and positioning of the hook portion 64 within the member 3 is facilitated by the positioning hole 65 which is disposed in a predetermined position relative to a reference point on the member 3. This reference point may be for example the rivet 22. The pawl member 60 shows only one hook portion 64 however, it should be understood that two hook portions may be provided without departing from the invention. Pawl member 60 includes notches 66, 67 on the side 63 which notches may facilitate the bending of the hook portions 64 during the forming operation in manufacturing. If desired the notches 66, 67 may be omitted. In addition, hook portion 64 can have an inhibiting surface similar to the inhibiting surface 57 of FIG. 5 to impede the motion of the ejected staple.

Referring to FIG. 7, another embodiment of the invention is shown in a staple remover 70. The staple remover 70 is similar to the staple remover 1 of FIG. 1 except that it comprises a pawl member which includes the features of the inhibiting surface 57 of FIG. 5 and the pawl portions 32, 51. More specifically, in FIG. 7 a pawl member 71 is slideably adjustable within the side wall portions 74 and on a back portion 75 of a member 76 and may be moved longitudinally thereon by a pin 77 and a button 78. A spring washer 79 provides sliding friction for the pawl member 71 so that it may be selectively held either in an on or off position as previously described for the pawl member 32. The pawl member 71 includes a hook portion 80 which is spaced from an upper camming surface 81 of the member 76. The spacing between the pawl member 71 and the upper camming surface as seen in FIG. 7 is greater than the cross-sectional area of the staple 13 but less than the length of the leg 11 of the staple 13. This spacing of the pawl member 71 and the camming surface 81 substantially eliminates the possibility of a staple flying away from the staple remover when it is stripped from the member 2 as described hereinbefore.

The operation of the staple remover 70 is similar to the operation of the staple removers 1, 40 and 50. During the removal operation, the hook portion 80 bypasses the staple 13 and strips or ejects the staple 13 when the members 2, 76 are returning to the open position as previously explained for the other embodiments of the staple remover.

Other modifications and variations of the described specific embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is understood that the described specific examples of the present invention are presented merely by way of example to facilitate a complete understanding of the invention, and such modifications, changes, or variations as are embraced by the spirit and scope of the appended claims, are contemplated as within the purview of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a staple removing device having cooperable staple engaging parts, one of which has camming means insertable under a body portion of the staple and the other of which is engageable with the staple to cause it to ride along said camming means at least beyond a given point thereon and be removed by the relative inward movement of said cooperable staple engaging parts, staple ejecting means comprising:

(a) a pawl member coupled to said other staple engaging part for movement therewith,

(b) said pawl member having a hook portion disposed between said staple engaging parts, and

(c) said hook portion being positioned in cooperative relationship with said camming means so that said hook portion bypasses said given point of said camming means before said staple rides past said given point on said camming means during said relative inward movement and ejects said staple from said camming means during relative outward movement of said staple engaging parts.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said hook portion is dished outwardly to hook said staple from said camming means during said relative outward movement.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 further including a spring means for biasing said staple engaging parts in a normally open position.

4. The invention defined in claim 1 further including first means for limiting said relative inward m vement of said staple engaging parts and second means for limiting said relative outward movement of said staple engaging parts so that said staple engaging parts have normally closed and open positions respectively.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said staple engaging parts intersect at one given point when disposed at said limit of relative inward movement and said pawl member is disposed between said point and said camming means so that said pawl member contacts said staple during relative outward movement of said staple engaging parts.

6. The invention defined in claim 1 further including means for moving said pawl member between a staple engaging position and a non-staple engaging position.

7. A staple remover comprising:

(a) camming means insertable under a body portion of a driven staple on a material,

(b) biasing means cooperable with said camming means to cause said staple to ride along said camming means at least beyond a given p int on a given path thereon and be removed from said material by relative inward movement between said camming means and said biasing means,

(0) ejector means disposed between said camming means and said biasing means and coupled to said biasing means for movement therewith, and

(d) said ejector means being positioned on said biasing means in cooperative relationship with said camming means to bypass said given point on said camming means ahead of said staple during said relative inward movement between said biasing means and said camming means so that said ejector means sweeps back along said path to eject said staple from said camming means during relative outward movement between said biasing means and said camming means.

8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said ejector means includes a pawl member disposed between said camming means and said biasing means.

9. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said camming means and said biasing means are hinged mounted at one end thereof for said inward and outward movement about a pin,

10. The invention defined in claim 9 wherein said pawl member including a hook portion positioned below said given point when said camrning means and said biasing means are disposed at said relative inward movement for removal of said staple.

11. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said camming means include a pair of spaced apart pointed jaw members and said ejector means includes a pawl member moveable between said spaced apart jaw members.

8 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,553,660 5/1951 Levendusky 254-58 2,776,109 1/1957 Segal 254-28 ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner D. R. MELTON, Assistant Examiner 

